Art and craft shop

Meet Nosiphamandla, a single mother of three children, whose husband died a few years ago. She is the sewing lady in Elundini and specializes in aprons and pillow cases, but also makes skirts, bags and much more. The fabrics she uses have all traditional prints which she buys in the local area, called Shweshwe.

Nosiphamandla is using a traditional sewing machine which runs without electricity. Every piece is 100% handcrafted and produced without using any electricity. She is selling her products as far as Finland.

Vluamehlo soaps are handmade soaps made by the wonderful young ladies Nosipho and Nandipha. They are part of the Vulamehlo women cooperative whose vision it is to empower women in rural areas. In 2014 they received training about soap making by a nice South African couple. With the help of the local Elundini NPO "Learn to Earn to Own" they were able to start their own business.

Vulamehlo soaps are made out of 100% natural and local ingredients. They contain water, cow fat, essential oils and aloe vera. The whole soap making process takes four weeks until the finished soap is useable. On this picture you can see Nosipho and Nandipha during the crafting process. They are melting the ingredients to mix them for the soap. Vulamehlo soaps are available with the scents lemon grass and lavender.

This is Ntombesizwe, also called Primrose. She lived and worked most of her life in Hogsback, but came back to Elundini in 2014 to lcare for her sick father who died in 2016. She produces hand-crafted candles. Primrose learned this on one of her earlier jobs.

Previous guests donated a starter kit for candle making to her. She is melting the wax over open fire, which is very challenging as it is hard to control the temperature like this. For a nice smell and look, Primrose adds different essential oils and colour powder to some of the candles.

Meet Jeanette. Jeanette was born in this area, but lived most of her live in Johannesburg. It's here were she learned everything about permaculture. Once on a pension she came back to her home village, Khayelethu.

In 2016 she started her own permaculture. Her garden looks green all year around. She's got a separate herb section. From this herbs she makes spices, cough medicine and herbal creams which she sells at the local market in Hogsback and at our backpackers. She also teaches neighbours about permaculture.